What is Lupus?

Systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE for short, is one of a number of illnesses known as the autoimmune diseases. Every individual is protected from "invasions" of viruses and bacteria by an immune systems'groups of cells in the blood and lymph system that circulate throughout the body and attack anything they recognize as "foreign." Without this defense system no one would live past infancy. In autoimmune disease, this system somehow becomes disordered, and an individual's immune system begins to attack his or her own tissues.

How is Lupus Diagnosed?

Only a physician can diagnose lupus. Lupus is a chronic and complex disease, and it is also known as "the great imitator" for symptoms that mimic those of other diseases. Generally, SLE is diagnosed when a patient meets four (4) of the following 11 criteria:

Malar rash: butterfly-shaped rash across cheeks and nose

Discoid (skin) rash: raised red patches

Photosensitivity: skin rash as result of unusual reaction to sunlight

Mouth or nose ulcers: usually painless

Arthritis (nonerosive) in two or more joints, along with tenderness, swelling, or effusion. With nonerosive arthritis, the bones around joints don’t get destroyed.

Cardio-pulmonary involvement: inflammation of the lining around the heart (pericarditis) and/or lungs (pleuritis)

Neurologic disorder: seizures and/or psychosis

Renal (kidney) disorder: excessive protein in the urine, or cellular casts in the urine

Antinuclear antibodies (ANA): a positive test in absence of drugs known to induce it

The Lupus Research Institute, LFNC's national partner, has more information on different types of lupus and diagnosis.

Lupus Treatment

Lupus is treated with some specific drugs (including the latest FDA approved Benlysta), however, lupus is also commonly treated with antimalarials and steroids (to keep the joint swelling down) and with immunosuppressants. Please consult your physician for your specific regimen.

"Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that often has a relapsing course. The primary therapeutic approach, therefore, is to achieve and maintain adequate suppression of the disease without causing unacceptable drug side effects. " (The following are excerpts from an article entitled Medications in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus written by Angela M. Stupi, M.D.) Read in detail.

Overlapping Diseases

The connective tissue diseases are a family of disorders which include rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus or SLE), polymyositis-dermatomyositis, systemic sclerosis (scleroderma or SSc), the various forms of vasculitis, and Sjogren'syndrome. These diseases have a number of features in common.